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January 2, 2013

News about the nuclear technologies industry

News Roundup

Courts to address Vermont Yankee plant dispute in January
The fate of Entergy's Vermont Yankee nuclear plant will be in the spotlight this month with two hearings. On Jan. 14, a federal appeals court in New York will hear arguments in an appeal of a decision by a Vermont federal judge that the state couldn't force the plant's shutdown. The Vermont Supreme Court two days later will hear allegations from nuclear critics that the facility's continued operation breaks the provisions of a state permit. The Wall Street Journal/The Associated Press (1/1)

NextEra Energy to test warning sirens at Wis. nuclear plant
The new emergency sirens at NextEra Energy's Point Beach nuclear plant in Wisconsin will be tested this week, said Lauretta Krcma-Olson, senior communication specialist for the facility. The company recently spent close to $500,000 for the sirens, which are located within the plant's 10-mile emergency planning zone. U.S. nuclear plants need to be equipped with such warning systems for emergencies. Herald Times Reporter (Manitowoc, Wis.) (1/1)

Energy Dept.: Oak Ridge uranium shipments could start in 2013
Deliveries of highly radioactive and fissionable uranium from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee to Nevada could commence early in 2013 if the needed approvals are secured, officials said. The shipments are part of a $500 million program to dispose of the material stored at the laboratory. "All approvals to ship are not yet in place, but we expect approval soon," according to the department. The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tenn.) (free registration) (12/31)

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Energy Spotlight

Plant Vogtle, V.C. Summer expansions called biggest story of 2012
The nuclear energy industry had a big year in 2012, according to a roundtable of experts assembled by blogger Rod Adams. The approvals of expansion projects at Southern Co.'s Plant Vogtle facility in Georgia and South Carolina Electric & Gas' V.C. Summer nuclear plant were two of the biggest stories. The panel also agreed that the change of chairmanship at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the lack of radiation-related health problems from the Fukushima Daiichi incident in 2011 were important last year. Atomic Insights blog (12/31)

Management & Leadership

How to lead like Bilbo Baggins
Viewers or readers of "The Hobbit" might assume the wizard Gandalf or the dwarfish leader Thorin are the adventurers' only leaders, but as the tale progresses, it's the meek, reluctant Bilbo Baggins who emerges as the true hero, Doug Guthrie writes. "Ultimately Bilbo rises to the occasion, despite the fact that his colleagues don't always think he's up to it," Guthrie writes. Forbes (12/27)

You can't force people to improve themselves
Companies should think twice about requiring employees to attend mandatory training sessions, Google's Karen May says. "People learn best when they're motivated to learn. If people opt in, versus being required to go, you're more likely to have better outcomes," May says. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (12/29)

International

TEPCO establishes recovery headquarters near Fukushima plant
Tokyo Electric Power has established a recovery headquarters near its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan to manage decontamination and compensation decisions. The utility also seeks to proceed with the development of a research facility and a next-generation coal-powered thermal plant near the site. These are part of efforts to "fulfill (TEPCO's) responsibility" for the incident, said Naomi Hirose, the company's president. The Mainichi (Japan) (1/1)

South Korea approves restart of 2 reactors
South Korea has cleared the restart of two reactors that were taken offline earlier in 2012 because of substandard parts that have since been replaced, according to the country's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. The restart of the units will help the country as it address power generation issues. Yonhap News Agency (South Korea) (12/31)

Some Japan reactors have faulty fire equipment
Japanese nuclear regulatory sources have found some deficient fire-prevention equipment installed in more than 10 nuclear plants in the country. The equipment includes flammable electric cables, sources said, adding that some safety systems are placed too close to one other. Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy is probing the issue. The Mainichi (Japan) (1/1)

SmartQuote

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them."

--Rose Kennedy,
American philanthropist

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